Only a free media can help foster unity

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Surely the concept of unity is best established through reasoning and continual debate through all available channels, says a reader.

On Nation-building - failure a costly option

Sathia Varqa: Most Malaysians agree that each and every Malaysian does have a place under the Malaysian sun. However, there is very little democratic space in the Malaysian media to discuss how this could be achieved in a meaningful way, except to be told by politicians occasionally depending on the event they are attending.

Surely the concept of unity inspired by Malaysians is best established through reasoning and continual debate through all available channels.

On MCA history: DAP misleading public

A Small Step Towards A Better Malaysia: Despite Lovely Jin's rants about the opposition - whether it is DAP, PKR , PAS or others, I see the by-election as a fight for a better Malaysia or to maintain the current rotten status quo.

As it is, we all know of the excesses of BN - corruption, cronyism, unfair award of tenders, racial speeches at the last Umno assembly, threats against other races, one-sided toll charges and increases, deteriorating education system - the list goes on.

If Machap people choose the opposition this time, it is not because DAP is great or it will spend money in that constituency. It is a small step for check and balance, transparency, a protest against decades of abuses of country's wealth and also a beginning of more opposition members in the Parliament to check the wild excesses of BN.

I agree that DAP may not be good enough, but MCA is no angel either.

On Who's best to helm the embattled ACA?

Thinker: I refer to search for a suitable head for our ACA. May I suggest Dr M to the post as he has the necessary experience and has the 'been-there-done-that know-how' for the position.

After all, he is well-known for harping on how corruption has become endemic in the country and how nothing has been done to combat it. He is the best choice, and I am sure he will act without fear or favour in that position. Let him eradicate corruption once and for all.

On F1: Singapore not likely to twin with Malaysia

Concerned Non-Economist: The 2007 Sepang F1 race is now over and it is time to find out if it has been a profitable one. Forget about the goodwill it has brought because it was achieved at a cost.

I understand that the Youth and Sports Ministry spent RM150 million in various expenses to support the event.

Amongst others, first-class air tickets for over 1,000 VIPs, including five-star hotel accommodation and local transport, were picked up by the Sports Ministry or the Malaysian Sports Council. Could the minister comment on this?

On Don't question Pak Lah's battle against graft

Aaron Yap: Can someone be more reasonable than our minister in the PM's Department, Nazri Aziz? He's really openly apple-polishing and protecting his immediate boss with such a great pride. With such an outstanding YB, besides our committed and clean PM, I can only say this - May God Bless Malaysia.

On It'll take more than mooncakes, nasi lemak and tosai

VP: Syabas and thank you Manjit Bhatia for putting all my thoughts into words. You have written very eloquently. There are very many Malaysians - but not the majority (judging from the election results) - who think and feel the same way that you do. I know that the Barisan government has a grip on the minds of people. No matter even when the worst happens, come election time, the people, like zombies, elect the same corrupt government.

I have always voted for the opposition.

I have always believed in transparency, accountability, freedom of the press, freedom of association, meritocracy, equality for all Malaysians irrespective of race and freedom for all religions to be practiced on an equal footing. In short, a government by the people, of the people, for the people. Sad to say, Barisan Nasional has none of these qualities. Ummo leads and MCA and MIC follow (they benefit from the goodies too) and they urge all Malaysians to follow suit.

A few elections back, when I urged one of my friends to vote for the opposition, she refused saying, "I am okay, my brother is okay." When the time came for her two children to go for higher education, both of them did not get into Malaysian universities. I can bet you that come this election, she will vote for Barisan again because sometimes it takes a lifetime to change one's mentality.

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